Epiphany celebrations

For Christians, the Epiphany celebrates the baptism of Christ by John the Baptist in the river Jordan.

By compiled from wire photos

on January 19, 2013 6:25 PM

Photo: MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP/Getty Images

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A Belarus Orthodox believer plunges into icy waters as a priest blesses him on the eve of the Epiphany holiday in Pilnitsa some 30 km outside Minsk, on January 18, 2013. Thousands of believers jump into holes cut in ice, braving freezing temperatures, on January 18 and early on January 19 to mark Epiphany, when they take part in a baptism ceremony. less

A Belarus Orthodox believer plunges into icy waters as a priest blesses him on the eve of the Epiphany holiday in Pilnitsa some 30 km outside Minsk, on January 18, 2013. Thousands of believers jump into holes ... more

A man crosses himself while bathing in the ice cold water after plunging into it to mark Epiphany in St.Petersburg, Russia, Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013.

A man crosses himself while bathing in the ice cold water after plunging into it to mark Epiphany in St.Petersburg, Russia, Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013.

Photo: Dmitry Lovetsky, Associated Press

A man crosses himself while bathing in the ice cold water after... Photo-4056427.55392 - Westport News

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Assistants help an Orthodox believer to take a bath in the icy waters of a lake in the village of Leninskoe about 20km from Bishkek on January 19, 2013 as part of Epiphany celebrations. For Christians, the Epiphany celebrates the baptism of Christ by John the Baptist in the river Jordan. less

Assistants help an Orthodox believer to take a bath in the icy waters of a lake in the village of Leninskoe about 20km from Bishkek on January 19, 2013 as part of Epiphany celebrations. For Christians, the ... more

Photo: VYACHESLAV OSELEDKO, AFP/Getty Images

Assistants help an Orthodox believer to take a bath in the icy... Photo-4056428.55392 - Westport News

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Russian Orthodox church faithful mark the Epiphany by plunging into ice cold water near the Red Square in Moscow on January 19, 2012.

Russian Orthodox church faithful mark the Epiphany by plunging into ice cold water near the Red Square in Moscow on January 19, 2012.

A Christian Orthodox nun plunges into the waters of the Jordan River during a ceremony marking the Orthodox Feast of the Epiphany on January 18, 2013 at the Qasr al-Yahud baptismal site in the West Bank by the Jordan River. Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III led the ceremony during which thousands of Orthodox Christians braved rain to plunge into plastic tubs filled with its murky water to celebrate Jesus's baptism. less

A Christian Orthodox nun plunges into the waters of the Jordan River during a ceremony marking the Orthodox Feast of the Epiphany on January 18, 2013 at the Qasr al-Yahud baptismal site in the West Bank by the ... more

Photo: MENAHEM KAHANA, AFP/Getty Images

A Christian Orthodox nun plunges into the waters of the Jordan... Photo-4056431.55392 - Westport News

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Petar Gacic, right, celebrates after retrieving the cross from the cold water of the Becmen lake, near the village of Becmen, 20 kilometers west of Belgrade, Serbia, Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013. Orthodox Serbs celebrate Epiphany on January 19, following old Julian calendar, with traditional retrieving of crosses from the rivers and lakes. less

Petar Gacic, right, celebrates after retrieving the cross from the cold water of the Becmen lake, near the village of Becmen, 20 kilometers west of Belgrade, Serbia, Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013. Orthodox Serbs ... more

A man walks away after taking a bath in the ice cold water in the ice hole of the pound in the Kolomenskoye park on the outskirts of Moscow, Russia, Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013.

A man walks away after taking a bath in the ice cold water in the ice hole of the pound in the Kolomenskoye park on the outskirts of Moscow, Russia, Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013.

Photo: Mikhail Metzel, Associated Press

A man walks away after taking a bath in the ice cold water in the... Photo-4056434.55392 - Westport News

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Serbian swimmers jump in the cold waters of the Sava lake as they compete to reach a cross in Belgrade on Epiphany Day on January 19, 2013. It is believed that the man who grabs the cross first, thrown into the water by an Eastern Orthodox priest, will be healthy throughout the New Year. less

Serbian swimmers jump in the cold waters of the Sava lake as they compete to reach a cross in Belgrade on Epiphany Day on January 19, 2013. It is believed that the man who grabs the cross first, thrown into the ... more

A man jumps into an ice hole in the Dnipro River, as others wait for their turn, as part of celebration of the Epiphany in the town of Vyshgorod outside the capital Kiev, Ukraine, Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013. Orthodox believers celebrate the holiday of the Epiphany on Jan. 19, and traditionally bathe in holes cut through thick ice on rivers and ponds to cleanse themselves with water deemed holy for the day. less

A man jumps into an ice hole in the Dnipro River, as others wait for their turn, as part of celebration of the Epiphany in the town of Vyshgorod outside the capital Kiev, Ukraine, Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013. ... more

Photo: Efrem Lukatsky, Associated Press

A man jumps into an ice hole in the Dnipro River, as others wait... Photo-4056438.55392 - Westport News

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A man plunges into an ice-hole during celebration of Orthodox Epiphany in Kiev on January 19, 2013.

A man plunges into an ice-hole during celebration of Orthodox Epiphany in Kiev on January 19, 2013.

Photo: SERGEI SUPINSKY, AFP/Getty Images

A man plunges into an ice-hole during celebration of Orthodox... Photo-4056439.55392 - Westport News

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Assistants help an Orthodox believer to take a bath in the icy waters of a lake in the village of Leninskoe about 20km from Bishkek on January 19, 2013 as part of Epiphany celebrations. For Christians, the Epiphany celebrates the baptism of Christ by John the Baptist in the river Jordan. less

Assistants help an Orthodox believer to take a bath in the icy waters of a lake in the village of Leninskoe about 20km from Bishkek on January 19, 2013 as part of Epiphany celebrations. For Christians, the ... more

Photo: VYACHESLAV OSELEDKO, AFP/Getty Images

Assistants help an Orthodox believer to take a bath in the icy... Photo-4056441.55392 - Westport News

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People plunge into an ice-hole during celebration of Orthodox Epiphany in Kiev on January 19, 2013.

People plunge into an ice-hole during celebration of Orthodox Epiphany in Kiev on January 19, 2013.

Photo: SERGEI SUPINSKY, AFP/Getty Images

People plunge into an ice-hole during celebration of Orthodox... Photo-4056442.55392 - Westport News

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A couple walk out of the ice cold water of the Moskva River after taking a bath, in the Kolomenskoye park on the outskirts of Moscow, Russia, Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013. Thousands of Russian Orthodox Church followers plunge into icy lakes and rivers during Friday and Saturday to mark the upcoming Epiphany, cleansing themselves with water deemed holy for the day. Over night temperatures dropped to around -10 C ( 14 F) in Moscow temperatures. less

A couple walk out of the ice cold water of the Moskva River after taking a bath, in the Kolomenskoye park on the outskirts of Moscow, Russia, Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013. Thousands of Russian Orthodox Church ... more

Photo: Mikhail Metzel, Associated Press

A couple walk out of the ice cold water of the Moskva River after... Photo-4056443.55392 - Westport News

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Orthodox believers wash faces with water from the hole after the consecration by its priest to mark Epiphany in Minsk, Belarus, Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013. Thousands of Russian Orthodox Church followers plunged into icy rivers and ponds across the country to mark Epiphany, during which they cleanse themselves with water deemed holy for the day. Water that is blessed by a cleric on Epiphany is considered holy and pure until next year's celebration, and is believed to have special powers of protection and healing. less

Orthodox believers wash faces with water from the hole after the consecration by its priest to mark Epiphany in Minsk, Belarus, Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013. Thousands of Russian Orthodox Church followers plunged ... more

Photo: Sergei Grits, Associated Press

Orthodox believers wash faces with water from the hole after the... Photo-4056445.55392 - Westport News

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A baby screams as he is plunged by an Orthodox priest into the waters of the Jordan River during a ceremony marking the Orthodox Feast of the Epiphany on January 18, 2013 at the Qasr al-Yahud baptismal site in the West Bank by the Jordan River. Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III led the ceremony during which thousands of Orthodox Christians braved rain to plunge into plastic tubs filled with its murky water to celebrate Jesus's baptism. less

A baby screams as he is plunged by an Orthodox priest into the waters of the Jordan River during a ceremony marking the Orthodox Feast of the Epiphany on January 18, 2013 at the Qasr al-Yahud baptismal site in ... more

Photo: MENAHEM KAHANA, AFP/Getty Images

A baby screams as he is plunged by an Orthodox priest into the... Photo-4056447.55392 - Westport News

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Russian Orthodox believers swim in the icy water on Epiphany at a pond in at a pond in Tyarlevo village outside St.Petersburg, Russia, early Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013. The temperature in St.Petersburg is -26C ( -14.8 F). Thousands of Russian Orthodox Church followers plunged into icy rivers and ponds across the country to mark Epiphany, cleansing themselves with water deemed holy for the day. Water that is blessed by a cleric on Epiphany is considered holy and pure until next year's celebration, and is believed to have special powers of protection and healing. less

Russian Orthodox believers swim in the icy water on Epiphany at a pond in at a pond in Tyarlevo village outside St.Petersburg, Russia, early Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013. The temperature in St.Petersburg is -26C ( ... more

Photo: Dmitry Lovetsky, Associated Press

Russian Orthodox believers swim in the icy water on Epiphany at a... Photo-4056449.55392 - Westport News